Page 34 of Fury

Hollyn bit her lip. Growing up, her parents had used notes like this as their hidden message system, and she used to think it was the coolest thing ever. Lips moving along with the words that appeared, Hollyn read:

Sparrow—even just reading the word was a punch to the gut—I hope I’m wrong about my suspicions, but if you’re reading this, then sadly, I wasn’t. Get to Davis as soon as possible. You’re in danger. He’ll protect you. I’ve hidden what you’re looking for where you’ll find it. Never forget, we love you more than life itself.

What she was looking for? What did that mean? All she wanted to know was who had broken into the house, but he wouldn’t know that.

The gravelly voice of her attacker pierced her memory.“You know where it is . . . ”

Her whole body shook with adrenaline now.

Could it be the same thing Dad was talking about here? And if so, what did it refer to? She didn’t like this. Too many unknown variables were in play.

Spinning on her heel, she bolted for the stairs. “Davis!” she called out as she crested the landing. She dashed for the workout room, deciding she was going to put her schoolgirl foolishness behind her.

Don’t think about what almost happened. Don’t. Think. About. It.

Sliding through the door, her mind whirled with everything that had happened since her parents’ death.

A loud clang of metal caught her attention as Davis replaced the dumbbell he’d been using. His gaze shot to her. “What’s wrong?”

So much for forgetting.

Just focus!

Fury barked at her, and Hollyn froze as the menacing sound echoed off the hard surfaces of the walls and floor. Fear seized her chest. She didn’t want the dog to misinterpret her rushed movements as her trying to go after his handler. She also couldn’t tell whether his bark was friendly or not.

Yeah, his name definitely made sense now.

“Leise,” Davis commanded firmly.

When the dog quieted, she took a couple tentative steps forward, watching for any sudden movement from the corner of her eye. She didn’t want to addbeing turned into mincemeatto the list of other things going wrong. “I just read the letter Randall gave me from my dad. I . . . I think you’re right. Theyweremurdered.”

Just saying that lifted bile to the back of her throat.

Davis reached for the letter, and she let him take it, careful not to brush his skin. She needed her mind sharp right now. Which, in reality, seemed laughable.

“Here.” She lit the lighter.

For a second he frowned in confusion, then the words appeared in the margins once more. “What . . . ” The rest of the sentence fell off as he read. His jaw flexed every few seconds as the silence grew unbearable. When he finished, he gave her a curt nod. “Ansel’s video was a similarly coded message.”

Really? Why hadn’t he mentioned that?

“What do we do?” She looked up at him for answers. “Can you even stay, or do you need to get back to your base soon?” She didn’t even know where he was stationed or in what country. So. Many. Questions.

A look she couldn’t decipher hardened his features before he shook his head. “No. I can stay.” He grabbed a hand towel from the nearby shelf and wiped at his face. Pain trickled over his expression when he rolled his shoulders. “I know someone I can reach out to. See if he can help us figure out what’s going on.”

Relieveddidn’t begin to cover what it was like knowing he wasn’t going anywhere. She was safe as long as she was with him. That, she knew deep in her core. Though, looking at him was causing ten different levels of embarrassment right now.

Still, it was odd that he had the option to stay. Maybe he was on leave or something. That’s what they called it right? Why hadn’t she thought to ask him? She’d been so caught up in herself and her own grief this whole time that she hadn’t really thought to ask him howhewas feeling or abouthislife since they last saw each other.

Inwardly, she cringed. Was he dating? Married? After all, some guys didn’t wear wedding rings. Was a relationship why he’d shoved her away downstairs? If she’d kissed a married man. . . The thought made her sick.

“Don’t worry, Hol. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

If only he could read her mind, he’d know just how far apart their trains of thought were in this moment. And how badly she wished they weren’t.

7

ABU DHABI, UAE

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